Posts From 2011

Trust Instructions It is tempting when creating an estate plan to try to plan for the future by setting specific instructions for preserving assets. For example a trust may give ...

Restrictions in Estate Planning It’s a fairly common movie theme: a child is required to get married before he can receive his huge inheritance.  The parents write something in their ...

Forgiving Debts One gift which is commonly overlooked is the gift of forgiving a debt.  An estate plan designates who will receive assets and property, but it can also designate ...

Protecting the Person Closest to You Many couples over age fifty who have been divorced or widowed are choosing not to marry again; rather, they are choosing to live together ...

Guardians Have Limited Power A guardian or attorney-in-fact (through a power of attorney document) may be appointed to take care of financial matters if the principal becomes incapacitated. Appointing someone ...

Giving is Good They say “you can’t take it with you when you go” so what should you do with the assets you have worked so hard to earn over ...

Reverse Mortgages A reverse mortgage can be very appealing to anyone over age 62 who has significant equity in their home.  A reverse mortgage is not like your typical mortgage ...

A Last Will and Testament is Not Private When a will goes through the probate process, all the details in it become part of the public record. Anyone can go ...

Tax Relief Act The new estate tax laws which took effect in 2011 include an option for spouses to combine their tax exemptions so neither spouse loses the full amount ...

The Current Federal Estate Tax Benefits May Not Last The current tax legislation is set to expire in just two years at the end of 2012.  Congress may decide to ...